DMV Closes Offices, Real ID Gets Delayed

Customers of California’s Department of Motor Vehicles can expect some changes in the coming weeks amid the continued spread of the coronavirus.

The DMV will be closing its field offices for in-person service around the state, but will be launching a new slate of online services to help with certain requests in the meantime.

Those looking to upgrade their driver’s license to comply with the new REAL ID standards will also have to wait a little bit longer. The new identification card has new security features and was going to be a requirement to get through airport security starting this year, though the federal government has since delayed that enforcement to October 2021 amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The DMV says that it’s still handling business that can be done online or through the mail, but starting on April 2 they plan to open a ‘virtual field office,’ which will give DMV customers the ability to take care of transactions that would typically require showing up in person.

While the specifics of the virtua field office aren’t yet clear, customers will have the ability to communicate with DMV staff and take care of tasks such as vehicle registration renewal or title transfers.

The department advises that if customers don’t have an urgent need to go to a DMV office, that they recommend waiting until offices are able to re-open again.

Those looking to upgrade their driver’s license to comply with the new REAL ID standards will also have to wait a little bit longer. The new identification card has new security features and was going to be a requirement to get through airport security starting this year, though the federal government has since delayed that enforcement to October 2021 amid the coronavirus pandemic.